How to Network Like an American - Expanded & Updated by Dreambridge Partners

U.S. JOB SEARCH SUCCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

How to Network Like an American

EXPANDED AND UPDATED

Judy Shen-Filerman Harvard MBA, Career Expert

For my immigrant parents, who exercised heroism everyday, by the simple gesture of making conversation with their American neighbors and co-workers. My admiration for their courage to face their vulnerabilities by engaging in everyday conversations, as awkward as they felt, in order to feel a sense of belonging in their place of work and in their new home, America.

Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 The 3 Critical Phases: The “Musts” for Success 13 Understanding Networking 13 Preparing for Networking 13 Doing Networking 14

CHAPTER 2 Understanding Networking 15 Why Networking is imperative for the U.S. job search 16 What is Networking like in the United States?

Networking is absolutely possible for international students

Success stories 16 Key success factors 17

CHAPTER 3 Preparing to Network: Part One 19 Your objectives 19 Developing your general career story 20

CHAPTER 4 Preparing to Network: Part Two 25 Target job positions 25 Research industry 26 Find and research networking contacts 27 Develop your targeted career story 29 Tell your career story 31

CHAPTER 5 Doing Networking 33 Introduce yourself to your networking contact 33 Meet and converse with your contact 47 Follow-up after your meeting 68 Maintain your relationships with your networking contacts 71 Making the ask for an internship or job 72

CHAPTER 6 In Closing 81

Foreword Congratulations! I’m so glad you’re reading this book! It’s a sign that you want to succeed in the United States – and you will! Coming to the United States when I was 6 and watching my parents learn to adapt to the American culture has given me a unique experience. I have come to understand that culture plays a huge part in your everyday life: how comfortable you feel ordering a meal at a restaurant…asking for something from a professor…making friends with an American. If you’re new to the United States, there will be amazingly wonderful times — meeting new people and enjoying new experiences! But there will also be times when you feel like you are struggling to understand how things work in this new place. I’ve written this book because I know just how hard job search networking is for international students. For the last 15 years, having met thousands of students, I know how “weird” the U.S. job search process is for many international students. What exactly do I do? Is it really okay to email strangers? What do I say when I meet them? How do I write my introductory emails? How do I stay in touch? So many questions! As a career coach, I’ve created this book so it’s easy to read, with lots of examples. You’ll even see my picture pop up throughout to give you encouragement or special comments. It’ll be as if I’m doing this with you! Networking in a new culture takes a lot of courage — and practice! You can do it! Turn the page and let’s get started.

Introduction What Is Networking? Networking is developing relationships with acquaintances and strangers that allow you to learn about careers, while opening doors to job opportunities. Also, students in the U.S. are allowed, and even encouraged, to contact more senior level individuals to seek advice. While this practice is forbidden in many cultures around the world, it is how networking is done in the United States. A networking contact may be a speaker who comes to campus, a recent graduate found on LinkedIn, or a referral from a professor. Of course, Americans network with friends and relatives. But there are “rules” for networking in the U.S., so it’s very important that you understand the idea well. This book will teach you all you need to know so you can network correctly and effectively, and get the positive results you want.

Why Network? You probably think that applying for a job online is a great way to find work. With so much done online, who wouldn’t think that! But believe it or not, applying online is not an effective way to get a job. In fact, 80% of jobs in the United States are found through networking. This means that networking is the most effective method to use when searching for work. That is why it is so important that you know how to network the right way. Having coached thousands of international students over the last decade, I know that many believe high grades will get them a job in the U.S. But this is simply not true. High grades are helpful, but they will not make a person stand out. International students must understand what it really takes to get a job in the U.S. Frankly, most international students do well with their technical grades, but what makes a person stand out is how he or she communicates. Employers care more about this than grades. The big question employers ask is: “Can this student work well in the United States, and work well with other Americans?” To answer their question, you will need to prove your interpersonal and communications skills! These skills shine through when you network. I’m so glad you are reading this book. Networking is critical if you want to find a job in the U.S. Although acquiring this skill is important for Americans, it is even more important for international students to master it. Networking is one of the only ways you are able to showcase

Introduction

your interpersonal communications skills and professional capabilities to people who can help you develop, get an interview, or get hired for a job.

Can International Students Network Well Enough to Get a Job ? Of course they can! I’ve known many students who have found incredible jobs though networking. However, students must be willing to use methods that are different from what they are used to. Networking requires students to work hard in areas that have nothing to do with “book smarts.” How you speak, how you tell stories, how you use language to persuade others…these are the skills needed for effective networking. Most of all, networking requires a time commitment, practice, and asking for feedback. The most successful students have been those who are willing to commit the time and put in the effort needed to network. There is no shortcut to success.

How to Get the Most Out of This Book A

GUIDELINES / INSTRUCTIONS

Examples: • How to start your emails and LinkedIn messages. • What language to use in opening paragraphs.

This section gives overall strategies for a particular networking-related activity.

• How soon to contact someone if they don’t respond. • How to carry on a networking conversation. • How to stay in touch after you’ve met.

CULTURAL CUES

Examples: • Don’t start opening paragraphs with “It’s of the greatest honor that I am contacting you.” Use a more equal tone, “I’m very excited to learn about you through the alumni office.” • When you meet your contact, initiate small talk to show friendliness and professionalism. Americans don’t feel comfortable with a long stretch of silence. • Handshakes should be firm, regardless of whether you are a woman or a man.

This section gives important U.S. cultural norms to be aware of in your networking practice.

How to Get the Most Out of This Book

This section gives actual examples of written/spoken language used in job search networking.

CASE STUDY / LANGUAGE EXAMPLES

Sample Email Subject Line: American Business University Student Seeking Your Counsel Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 Dear Ms. Riley, My name is Arjun Gupta and I’m pursuing a Masters of Finance at American Business University. I am contacting you to learn more about career development in corporate finance. I learned about you through the alumni office and have been very impressed by your career accomplishments. Prior to this, I was a manufacturing engineer at ABC Bottling Company. I’ve always enjoyed using my strong quantitative and analytical knowledge to model and design manufacturing lines. Also satisfying was working with my team to turn models into a practical reality. Today, I hope to apply my interest in quants and modeling to financial modeling. I’m excited about equity financial analysis because of its complexity. I look forward to the opportunity to use analytical modeling to better understand the underlying dynamics that are driving share price. I hope to have an opportunity to speak with you in the next couple of weeks, at a time most convenient for you. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Arjun Gupta

U.S. JOB SEARCH SUCCESS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

How to Network Like an American Judy Shen-Filerman Harvard MBA, Career Expert Judy Shen-Filerman is a Harvard Business School graduate and a nationally known job search expert for international students. This new, comprehensive guide is an invaluable tool for international students hoping to break into the U.S. job market. By following the simple, easy to follow guidelines and practical advice, students will discover:

›› Why you must network if you want to succeed. ›› American rules for making contact, with detailed “Do’s and Don’t’s”, plus writing samples. ›› What to say in your networking conversation and how to keep it going. ›› How to maintain a relationship with a networking contact. ›› How to ask for a job and knowing the right time to ask. Build your Cultural Agility with Judy’s Cultural Skills Training: • Improve advising and teaching effectiveness • Build effective cross-cultural student teams • Groom global leadership skills for U.S. students CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

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Judy is CEO and founder of Dreambridge Partners, a coaching firm that helps clients live their best lives. Judy has lived the American dream and is passionate about helping others achieve their dreams. Immigrating to the United States when she was six years old, Judy later attended Harvard College, then Harvard Business School. She eventually became the youngest vice $24.99 president at Polaroid Corporation. As a bi-cultural ISBN 978-0-692-54217-0 and bilingual professional, she has experienced the 52499> struggle of succeeding in the U.S. corporate culture while maintaining the essence of her Asian upbringing. Her work aims to help “culture-crossers” succeed in the U.S. power culture while honoring their “essential selves.” 9 780692 542170

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